FINANCIAL AID REPORT DECEMBER 2, 2010

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1 FINANCIAL AID REPORT DECEMBER 2, Broadway, Suite 1600 Denver, Colorado (303) D. RICO MUNN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1

2 BACKGROUND Student financial aid is an important resource that makes higher education attainable. As higher education costs continue to increase, students and families both nationally and in Colorado combine various personal, state, institutional and federal resources to pay these costs. For most students and families, the actual costs associated with attending college go beyond just tuition and fee expenses. Housing, books and supplies, food, and transportation typically add up to more than tuition and must be included when determining the funds needed to attend college. Some families save for college, putting resources aside early in specifically designated savings programs, such as state 529 savings plans (named for the pertinent IRS section) and Coverdell education savings accounts, which offer some tax advantages, and individually managed mutual funds or savings programs parents themselves manage. Student loans continue to be an important financing source for many students. Through federally supported programs the Stafford loan program, available to students through the Federal Family Education Loan Program, the William D. Ford (direct lending) program and the Perkins loan program (a federal-institution partnership) the student loan industry has grown as more students borrow larger amounts to meet rising college costs. Federal loans are now offered directly through the U.S. Department of Education. Besides these federal programs, the private loan market often with higher interest rates and borrower credit qualification requirements helps students meet education costs. Few data sources track these loans or the number of parents who use home equity credit lines, personal lines of credit, or borrow against their retirement or insurance portfolios to finance college for their children. In addition, credit cards play a role in helping parents and students pay education expenses, although good data is not available about how much credit card debt can be attributed to higher education expenses. Tables 12 and 13 at the end of this report show the cumulative debt of students graduating with associate and baccalaureate degrees in Colorado over the past five years. Student debt load in Colorado is slightly lower than the national average, but remains a key component in evaluating the affordability of higher education. Federal student aid, anchored by the federal Pell grant program and various loan programs, is the single largest aid resource for most students. While no other source of financial aid has reached the federal levels, the amount of institutional aid available for students has seen a more significant shift in the past fiscal year, as state public institutions have been required by statute to devote 20% of revenue from tuition increases above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to institutional financial aid. Most of these programs require students parents to qualify under state and federal need-based aid calculations based on family income. Grants and scholarships play a major role for some students. Many scholarships are specifically tied to achievement goals, student abilities (e.g., athletic or musical), specific group membership, and competitions for the students seeking the awards, or other specific criteria, such as field of study. The following table is a breakdown of the sources of student aid in Colorado for FY It illustrates the importance of institutional aid for Colorado students and continued reliance on loans. 2

3 Table 1: Sources of Aid in Fiscal Year 2010 Type of Aid Amount Institutional 374,424,939 Federal 364,589,791 State 105,927,577 Loans 1,144,184,721 Other 68,393,532 Total 2,057,520,560 Typically, the amount of aid a student receives is determined by aggregating all the parent and student resources reasonably available to cover college costs, subtracting those resources from the total cost of attendance at an institution, and then attempting to put together a package of resources from multiple sources to meet a particular student s need. Students in low-income and some middle-income families often qualify for federal Pell grants, the first choice for many financial aid offices in packaging aid for students. After subtracting the Pell grant funds, an aid officer next examines whether the student might qualify for a Colorado s College Responsibility, which provides a minimum award to Level 1 students (those with highest need) in the amount of $850. FY07-08 was the first year of the program. Allocations were made to schools based on their number of Level 1 full-time enrollment (FTE). However for FY 09-10, institutions were required to award College Responsibility Grants to include juniors in addition to the freshman and sophomores. Institutions were then given discretion to phase out the prior program, the Colorado Student Grant, for seniors or award the Colorado s College Responsibility Grant. Awards to Level I students ranged from $850 to $5,000 per student. The Colorado Student Grant awards range from a minimum award of $300 at Level 3 to a maximum award at Level 1 of $5,000. While the financial aid allocation formula aims to award all Level 1 students a minimum grant, student who enter after priority date may not be awarded. A subsidized federal loan (an advantage for students in lower income groups since the interest is paid by the federal government and does not accrue to the borrower while he or she is in college) is the often the next option for students to meet their need. Once subsidized borrowing is factored into the equation, aid officers generally turn to institutional resources. This aid can be specific grant or scholarship aid from the school s foundation, tuition and fee discounting, or other resources available to the institution. In recent years, students often bring outside aid with them to the institution (e.g., Daniels scholars, Boettcher Foundation scholars, National Merit Scholarships, The Denver Scholarship Foundation scholars and corporate-sponsored scholarships). For many students from middle and upper income families, Pell grants, Colorado grants and subsidized Stafford loans are unavailable because of income thresholds set by these programs. A parent PLUS loan or an unsubsidized Stafford loan are typically the first elements of an aid package for these students. A PLUS loan requires credit qualification and is debt accruing to the parent. Unsubsidized Stafford loans are student debt. If the loan packages which have annual limits under federal law do not meet costs, institutions may look at tuition discounting, depending on income levels, or other institutional 3

4 aid resources. Financial aid offices may then suggest private loans for these students and their parents. If the student meets academic criteria, a merit award is possible from the limited state pool of aid or institutional resources. Parents of these students are the most likely to use income tax credits to help defray year-to-year higher education borrowing costs. COLORADO FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES Student financial aid seeks to provide equal opportunity to otherwise qualified students whose personal or family resources are insufficient to cover the cost of college. A primary goal of the Department of Higher Education is to expand student access to Colorado s institutions of higher education. For FY 2010, General Fund support for all state financial aid decreased by $1,336,492 from the prior year. Fiscal Year 2009 was the first year that need-based aid increased above the pre-recession levels of FY During the course of the year, there has been a downturn in the economy. Looking back at FY 2009, financial aid opportunities were the most favorable for students in Colorado since the recession of FY Merit aid, a pre-collegiate scholarship program, has been zeroed out in FY 2010 to offset increases in costs of mandatory programs, including the National Guard Tuition Assistance Program and the Law/Fire Dependent Tuition Assistance Program. Colorado student financial aid is appropriated by the state legislature and allocated by the Department of Higher Education to eligible public, private and proprietary colleges and universities. Institutions then allocate financial aid awards to the students. A variety of aid is available to students based on various criteria including need, merit, work-study, categorical and entitlement programs. The various state-funded programs are described below. Need-Based Aid: Most state financial aid is in the form of need-based grants to assist Colorado resident students who cannot otherwise afford to attend college. Need is determined by subtracting a student s expected family contribution from total cost of attendance. Expected family contribution is a commonly used indicator of ability to pay, primarily based on a family s income adjusted for the number of family members, other financial assets and number of family members in college. It is the amount that the parents and the student are expected to contribute to cover the cost of attending college. The total cost to attend college includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses for students who do not live in reasonable commuting distance. If the cost to attend college exceeds the student s expected family contribution, the student is eligible for financial aid. The difference between the student s calculated need and the amount of financial aid that he/she receives is considered the student s unmet need. Merit-Based Scholarships: The state s merit-based aid program is unfunded beginning in The Colorado Undergraduate Merit and Colorado Graduate Fellowship programs seek recognize outstanding student achievements. A student s financial circumstances were not a factor in the award decision and only the student s performance (as measured by grade point average (GPA) or test scores) or recognized talents in a specific area (such as drama, music, and athletics) was 4

5 considered. A minimum 3.5 GPA was required for award renewal. The Colorado Graduate Fellowship program has also been discontinued until the merit aid appropriation reaches the 2003 level of $14.9M. Work-Based Aid: Work-study allows students to earn funds while attending college. It is considered a form of self-help assistance, since the student is earning money through employment to help meet his/her educational costs. Colorado work-study allocations may be used for students without documented financial need, but Colorado statutes require that no less than 70 percent of workstudy funds are awarded to students with demonstrated financial need (C.R.S (3)). State-funded Categorical and Entitlement Programs: There are three federal programs requiring a matching state appropriation for participation: the Perkins Student Loan Program, certain Health Profession Loans, and the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program. Colorado provides the required match so that Colorado students may receive the benefits of these programs. The Law Enforcement/POW/MIA Dependents Tuition Assistance program is a tuition, fee, and room and board assistance program for dependents of deceased or permanently disabled members of the National Guard, law enforcement officers, firefighters, prisoners of war, or military personnel missing in action who were residents of Colorado. The awards are based on statutory guidelines. The Native American Tuition Assistance Program is an entitlement program established pursuant to an agreement with the federal government allowing Native American students to attend Fort Lewis College without paying tuition. Table 2 below reflects changes in financial aid allocations in the Long Bill. While total financial aid has increased by 54% over the last decade, it has increased the most over the last three fiscal years. Last year s report indicated a slight increase of 4 percent over the last five fiscal years. Due to increases in need-based grants for FY 2008 and FY 2009, the total state funding in need based grants provided is now above 2003 pre-recession levels. The previous peak allocation of $91 million in total state aid was provided in FY In FY 2010 Colorado exceeded the total levels of state aid provided in FY Table 2: Colorado State Funded Student Assistance Programs - Total Appropriations (less Federal Funds) from Appropriations Report 5

6 Need- Based Grants Merit- Based Grants Work- Categorical Total State Fiscal Year Based Aid Programs Aid $34,709,277 $13,117,490 $13,402,484 $6,329,826 $67,559, $38,423,152 $13,826,078 $14,248,944 $6,513,899 $73,012, $42,199,077 $14,371,810 $14,811,367 $7,177,010 $78,559, $47,598,002 $14,874,498 $15,359,754 $7,554,066 $85,386, $51,550,101 $14,874,498 $16,612,357 $8,049,044 $91,086, $46,002,682 $6,877,309 $15,030,062 $8,296,701 $76,206, $45,935,202 $6,434,287 $15,003,374 $8,790,113 $76,162, $52,285,488 $1,500,000 $15,003,374 $10,005,122 $78,793, $60,096,963 $1,500,000 $14,884,300 $11,281,496 $87,762, $67,023,546 $1,500,000 $14,884,300 $11,766,432 $95,174, $74,294,146 $1,500,000 $16,612,357 $12,862,293 $105,268, $74,294,146 $0 $16,612,357 $13,025,841 $103,932,344 Change % % 10.72% 48.19% 36.46% Change % % 23.95% % 53.84% The peak allocation for appropriated need based aid is FY 2010, with just over $74 million. In FY 2010 the allocation for work-based aid returns to the FY 2003 level at $16.6 million. Over the decade, state need-based aid has grown substantially, reflecting the Legislature s and Department s policy and commitment to focus on providing aid to students from families with incomes at or below 150 percent of the Pell eligibility levels established by the U.S. Department of Education. Categorical aid is divided among several different programs and received roughly $13 million in FY 2010: The Law Enforcement/POW/MIA Dependents Tuition Assistance program assists dependents of deceased or permanently disabled military, law enforcement officers or firefighters; the program allocation grown annually and was $364,922 in FY The Leverage Educational Assistance Partnership Program is a required for a federal match, where the state matches the federal dollars available on a two-for-one basis; the allocation in FY 2010 was $3,026,350, with the General Fund portion totaling $1,726,350. The Native American Tuition Assistance Program covers full tuition for Native American students attending Ft. Lewis College and drives the greatest increases in categorical programs reflecting both increasing tuition costs and student population; the FY 2010 allocation was $9,622,696. 6

7 The National Guard Tuition Assistance Program received $800,000 and the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program $161,600 in FY Increasing tuition costs, coupled with increasing enrollments have resulted in diminished buying power of financial aid resources. The result is potential barriers for students from both lowincome and middle-income families in Colorado. Historically, the Colorado General Assembly has provided increases in funding for student aid programs of between eight percent and nine percent, allowing financial aid increases to outpace tuition increases and improve higher education access to Coloradans. The graph below illustrates tuition increases over the past five years in relationship to state financial aid funding over the same time period. In FY 2010, the average statewide base tuition and fee increase was 9.4 percent and financial aid decreased by nearly two percent. 7

8 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS Of the 210,370 students reported in the Department s Student Unite Record Data System who receive some form of financial aid in Colorado (including loans), 58 percent are female and 42 percent are male, which is consistent with enrollment demographics across the state. The largest concentration of students in the financial aid file who have reported ethnicity identify as White, non-hispanic (63 percent); the second largest concentration of students identify as Hispanic (13 percent); the third largest concentration identify as Black, non-hispanic. Four percent of the students identify as Asian or Pacific Islander and two percent identify as Native American. The remaining eleven percent of students have either not reported an ethnicity (ten percent) or are Non-Resident aliens (one percent). When considering the ethnicity data by gender, the percentages of students who access financial aid are closely correlated by ethnicity. A slightly higher number of Hispanic females receive financial aid, but for the most part access to financial aid does not vary significantly by gender. 8

9 SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID The following charts illustrate the sources of financial aid distributed to Colorado students in FY 2009 and FY In both years, the dependence on federal loans accounts for more than half of total assistance. There was a slight drop in borrowing from FY 2009 to FY State aid as a share of all sources of financial aid remained fairly constant. 9

10 10

11 At the national level, according to the most recent data from College Board s publication Trends in Student Aid 2010, Pell grants grew significantly. The growth is attributed to the change to Pell grant eligibility and the number of students accessing year round awards. Table 3 shows six-year historical expenditures in Colorado in all student aid categories. Total financial aid expenditures for Colorado, including federal financial aid sources, institutional aid, state aid and private financial aid resources increased 56 percent from 2005 to This change reflects an increase in institutional aid by nearly 93 percent in the last six years and a 40 percent increase of Colorado students relying on federal student loans. During this same time period, state aid increased by 36 percent. These figures suggest that total need for Colorado students has increased at a rate greater than state aid. To meet need, institutions have increased the amount of dollars going to aid and students are relying heavily on federal loans to cover the costs of attendance. Table 3: Total Expenditures on Student Financial Aid in Colorado Fiscal Year Federal Pell Grant Federal Loans Federal Other State Institutional Other Total ,545, ,466,069 32,658,968 78,152, ,265,627 42,430,273 1,316,518, ,403, ,562,469 33,571,583 79,890, ,881,750 67,636,141 1,407,945, ,156, ,930,663 50,413,660 88,741, ,682,242 44,754,431 1,470,678, ,053, ,364,934 55,931,859 96,973, ,198,524 53,715,525 1,639,237, ,053, ,425,090 57,240, ,500, ,883,102 62,174,048 1,724,277, ,194,931 1,144,184,721 50,394, ,927, ,424,939 68,393,532 2,057,520,560 Change % 39.97% 54.31% 35.54% 92.74% 61.19% 56.28% On a national basis, research indicates a growing reliance on loans, both federal and private. Private loans are not part of the federal Title IV program under which interest rates are established by the Department of Education based on Congressional formulas. Private loans often require credit-worthiness on the part of the borrower. Rates generally are significantly higher and students often do not have the ability to defer payments or take advantage of other benefits available to student borrowers through the Stafford or Ford loan programs. Since the bank reform legislation, the availability of private loans has decreased significantly. In Colorado, Pell dollars increased by 107 percent from FY 2005 to FY Because of a decline in enrollment by Pell eligible students in FY 2005 and in FY 2006, the number of Pell awards decreased over the same time period, with comparable decrease in dollars. With changes made by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, Pell grant eligibility was broadened and thus additional dollars expended. Other federal aid ROTC scholarships, the federal health worker and nursing scholarships, the Bureau of Indian Affairs scholarships, etc. increased slightly, reflecting the number of students participating in federal categorical programs. Table 4 shows the federal student aid expenditures over the last six years. 11

12 Table 4: Federal Student Aid Expenditures Fiscal Year Federal Pell Grant Federal Loans Federal Other Total Federal ,545, ,466,069 32,658,968 1,001,670, ,403, ,562,469 33,571,583 1,009,537, ,156, ,930,663 50,413,660 1,093,500, ,053, ,364,934 55,931,859 1,200,350, ,053, ,425,090 57,240,828 1,225,718, ,194,931 1,144,184,721 50,394,860 1,508,774,512 Change % 39.97% 54.31% 50.63% Table 5 shows the growth in the number of students served by the Pell grant and other federal programs in Colorado over the past six years. From FY 2005 through FY 2010 the number of students receiving federal loans increased by nearly 31 percent while the number receiving federal Pell grants increased 42 percent. Table 5: Number of Students Receiving Federal Student Aid in Colorado Federal Pell Federal Federal Other Fiscal Year Grant Loans* Total Federal , ,568 18, , , ,263 17, , , ,555 23, , , ,518 26, , , ,003 27, , , ,690 30, ,305 Change % 30.57% 64.76% 35.72% *Figures include number of total loans not necessarily number of students Table 6 shows the average aid award per student in each of the federal student aid categories. With only one year (2006) of a very slight decline, the average Pell Grant amount increased consistently from $2,364 in Fiscal Year 2005 to $3,450 in Fiscal Year The maximum Pell grant in 2010 was $5,350, with nearly 27 percent of Colorado s Pell Grant recipients having received the maximum award. The average aid from other federal sources decreased slightly in FY 2010 and the average federal loan amount declined below the FY 2007 level. Table 6: Average Federal Student Aid Expenditure Per Student (Total Enrolled Recipients) Fiscal Year Federal Pell Grant Federal Loans Federal Other Total Federal ,364 4,453 1,761 8, ,332 4,630 1,957 8, ,397 4,835 2,153 9, ,528 5,188 2,133 9, ,803 4,698 2,102 9, ,450 4,774 1,649 9,873 Change % 7.19% -6.34% 17.21% 12

13 FEDERAL EDUCATION TAX CREDITS AND DEDUCTIONS In addition to traditional forms of student assistance, the federal government indirectly provides financial assistance through education tax credits and tax deductions to students who are attending a postsecondary institution and to their families. There are three types of federal education benefits: Hope credits, Lifetime Learning credits, and tuition and fees deductions. Unlike traditional types of aid, higher education institutions cannot track or report the dollar value of these tax benefits. National data suggests that in 2008, parents and students received $6.8 billion in tax credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning) and deductions for federal tuition and fees 1. Tax credits and deductions are less likely than other forms of student aid to benefit the lowest income students because they are available only to students and families who have positive federal tax liabilities. In addition, they cover only tuition and fee expenses net of grant aid, not room and board or other education-related expenses. These policies also provide larger subsidies to students paying higher tuition and fees than to those enrolled in the lowest price institutions. Beginning in 2008, the amount of Hope or lifetime learning credit was gradually phased out for those with modified adjusted gross incomes (AGI) between $48,000 and $58,000 ($96,000 and $116,000 for joint returns) 2 ; those with an AGI of $58,000 or more ($116,000 for joint returns) cannot claim a credit. The following two charts show the distribution of tax credits and deductions nationally in Federal Education Tax Credits: Distribution of Savings by Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Level, 2008 with average savings 1 Trends in Student Aid National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Parent and Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees, p. 1 13

14 2007 with average savings DISTRIBUTION OF STATE AID As shown in the following graph, of the funds available in Colorado in FY 2010, 71 percent was awarded to students based on need calculations. 14

15 Table 7 shows actual dollar expenditures over the past six years. Of note, work study increased slightly over the past three years and then in FY 2010 returned to Fiscal Year 2003 funding levels. Overall state aid increased by 43 percent over the six-year period. Need-based aid increased by 90 percent and categorical aid increased by 44 percent over the period. Table 8 shows the number of students receiving state aid from FY 2005 to FY

16 Table 7: Colorado State Student Aid Expenditures State Need- State Merit State Work State Fiscal Year Based Grant Study Categorical Total State ,651,993 6,460,706 15,711,106 7,813,433 67,637, ,285,061 1,497,959 15,111,267 7,423,434 68,317, ,179,451 1,439,181 15,795,439 7,975,458 77,389, ,865,057 1,498,621 16,131,429 9,271,050 93,766, ,084,464 1,493,623 18,061,358 10,549, ,189, ,787, ,869,597 11,272, ,929,421 Change % % 13.74% 44.27% 43.11% Table 8: Colorado Students Receiving State Aid State Need- State Merit State Work State Fiscal Year Based Study Categorical Total State ,508 5,363 7, , ,832 1,383 8, , ,504 1,211 7, , ,985 1,158 7, , ,768 1,127 8, , , , ,354 Change % % 3.64% 20.23% 73.00% The number of students receiving state need based aid increased 144 percent since FY The number of work-study recipients has remained fairly constant and categorical aid recipients have increased by 20 percent. As seen in Table 9, average need based award decreased by nearly 23 percent from FY 2005 to FY This decrease is attributed to the change in structure of the need-based aid program and the growth in eligible students. The average need based award has decreased, as shown in Table 8, while the average work study award has remained constant. Table 9: Average Award Colorado Per Student Aid Expenditures Fiscal Year State Need- Based State Merit State Work Study State Categorical ,476 1,205 1,995 10, ,536 1,083 1,832 9, ,605 1,188 2,071 10, ,393 1,294 2,170 9, ,354 1,325 2,160 11, , ,189 12,082 Change % % 9.91% 25.21% Since 1999, the Department has followed a policy of focusing financial aid to students in the lowest income quartile. The Department current policy will continue this targeting of funds 16

17 toward students with the greatest need with the continuation of the need-based aid program known as Colorado s College Responsibility Program, so that: All Level 1 students (150 percent of Pell eligibility) receive some financial aid regardless of when they apply; All Level 1 students will receive a standard amount regardless of the institution attended; Minimum awards will transfer across institutions; and Institutions have flexibility to award above minimum amounts but are only required to meet minimums for all eligible students. DISTRIBUTION OF INSTITUTIONAL AID For many institutions, institutional aid plays a significant role in financial aid packaging and has increased in importance over the past few years. Those institutions with greater endowment or foundation resources have an advantage in their ability to package institutional aid for students. However, all institutions reallocate some internal resources whether from tuition paid by students, College Opportunity Fund payments, fee-for-service payments received or institutional aid. As already noted, institutions are required under Colorado law to allocate to need-based financial aid 20 percent of any tuition revenue due to rate increases over CPI. Institutions use this aid to ensure that students whose resources cannot stretch to cover college costs are able to attend. Tables 10 and 11 below, show the growth in the amount of institutional aid for Colorado institutions and the number of students receiving the aid during the first part of the decade. Total institutional aid has increased by nearly 93 percent since FY As one would expect, the total number of students receiving institutional aid has also had a significant increase in the past several years. Institutions with significant institutional aid resources primarily focus aid on needy students who may have not qualified for a Pell grant or for state aid but are still in need of financial resources to attend college. Table 10: Institutional/Other Aid Expenditures Fiscal Year Institutional Aid Other Aid Total ,265,627 42,430, ,695, ,881,750 66,341, ,223, ,682,242 44,754, ,436, ,198,524 53,715, ,914, ,883,102 62,174, ,057, ,424,939 68,393, ,818,471 Change % 61.19% 87.08% Table 11: Number of Students Receiving Institutional/Other Student Aid Fiscal Year Institutional Aid Other Aid Total ,689 25,638 73, ,006 20,869 90, ,184 15,947 66, ,940 17,288 96, ,882 17,833 90, ,640 19,338 92,978 Change % % 26.80% 17

18 Tables 11a and 11b show student aid by type (excluding loans) at public institutions for students who are eligible to receive state funded financial aid. Table 11a highlights the total aid received by students at public institution broken out into aid types (excluding loans) awarded to resident, undergraduate students enrolled at least half time. Table 11b breaks down the aid types as a percentage of all grant aid paid by the institution. The graphs of 2010 Sources of Financial Aid on page 8 indicate that institutional aid accounts for 19 percent of all aid sources and state aid makes up only six percent of all aid. The data indicates that at public institutions, state aid (18percent) and institutional aid (18percent) makes up nearly 36 percent of grant aid paid. Of the institutional aid at public institutions, roughly 36 percent is awarded to resident undergraduates who have applied for federal financial aid and are enrolled. The remaining aid is used for resident students who do not apply for financial aid or are not eligible, graduate students and nonresidents. 18

19 Table 11a: Total Grant Aid Received by Institution for Resident, Undergraduates at Public Institutions in 2010 Enrolled at Least Half Time Institution Sum of Federal Grants Sum of State Grants Sum of Institutional Aid Sum of Other Aid Total Aid Four Year Institutions 139,799,012 54,170,985 74,431,322 17,053, ,454,910 Adams State College 6,517,366 2,269,707 1,395, ,011 10,477,645 Colorado School of Mines 2,781,867 1,380,588 4,721,674 1,552,456 10,436,585 Colorado State University 19,193,237 8,302,553 14,055,888 4,180,820 45,732,498 Colorado State University - Pueblo 9,583,899 3,263,475 1,925,780 1,028,661 15,801,815 Fort Lewis College 3,135,812 1,677,209 2,094, ,330 7,186,087 Mesa State College 9,556,978 3,664,499 1,703,494 63,159 14,988,130 Metropolitan State College of Denver 31,729,840 9,836,528 3,111, ,015 45,491,448 University of Colorado at Boulder 20,446,836 8,063,620 24,099,759 3,789,211 56,399,426 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 9,696,876 3,835,986 3,872,442 1,004,274 18,409,578 University of Colorado Denver 14,584,861 5,544,275 5,958,424 1,668,462 27,756,022 University of Northern Colorado 10,576,941 5,353,031 10,266,574 2,156,068 28,352,614 Western State College 1,994, ,514 1,225, ,124 4,423,062 Two Year Institutions 113,866,366 26,358,316 4,553,027 3,434, ,212,704 Aims Community College 7,091,508 1,679, , ,821 9,592,489 Arapahoe Community College 7,137,261 1,633, , ,065 9,171,344 Colorado Mountain College 2,149, , , ,687 3,064,428 Colorado Northwestern Community College 817, , ,321 10,305 1,385,122 Community College of Aurora 8,063,705 1,637, , ,233 10,222,902 Community College of Denver 15,988,651 3,256, , ,852 20,133,062 Front Range Community College 17,982,295 4,294, , ,542 23,023,038 Lamar Community College 1,598, , , ,913 2,461,782 Morgan Community College 2,361, , ,850 60,880 3,102,582 Northeastern Junior College 2,657, , , ,373 4,285,056 Otero Junior College 3,288, , , ,233 4,803,376 Pikes Peak Community College 18,077,307 4,122, , ,099 22,892,436 Pueblo Community College 14,739,775 3,442, ,699 5,375 18,387,028 Red Rocks Community College 7,894,796 1,681, , ,009 10,101,194 Trinidad State Junior College 4,019,241 1,136, , ,608 5,586,865 Statewide Total 253,665,378 80,529,301 78,984,349 20,488, ,667,614 19

20 Table 11b shows the percentage of grant aid received by students who applied for aid and were enrolled at least half-time (from chart 11a). Table 11b: Percentage of Aid by Type at Public Institutions for All Aid Types Excluding Loans Sum of Federal Sum of State Sum of Institutional Institution Grants Grants Aid Sum of Other Aid Four Year Institutions 48.97% 18.98% 26.07% 5.97% Adams State College 62.20% 21.66% 13.32% 2.82% Colorado School of Mines 26.65% 13.23% 45.24% 14.88% Colorado State University 41.97% 18.15% 30.74% 9.14% Colorado State University - Pueblo 60.65% 20.65% 12.19% 6.51% Fort Lewis College 43.64% 23.34% 29.15% 3.87% Mesa State College 63.76% 24.45% 11.37% 0.42% Metropolitan State College of Denver 69.75% 21.62% 6.84% 1.79% University of Colorado at Boulder 36.25% 14.30% 42.73% 6.72% University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 52.67% 20.84% 21.03% 5.46% University of Colorado Denver 52.55% 19.98% 21.47% 6.01% University of Northern Colorado 37.30% 18.88% 36.21% 7.60% Western State College 45.09% 22.15% 27.72% 5.04% Two Year Institutions 76.83% 17.78% 3.07% 2.32% Aims Community College 73.93% 17.51% 7.11% 1.46% Arapahoe Community College 77.82% 17.81% 2.95% 1.42% Colorado Mountain College 70.13% 18.53% 7.99% 3.35% Colorado Northwestern Community College 59.03% 19.34% 20.89% 0.74% Community College of Aurora 78.88% 16.02% 1.57% 3.53% Community College of Denver 79.41% 16.17% 1.85% 2.56% Front Range Community College 78.11% 18.65% 1.62% 1.62% Lamar Community College 64.92% 18.94% 10.90% 5.24% Morgan Community College 76.11% 17.32% 4.60% 1.96% Northeastern Junior College 62.01% 15.56% 12.21% 10.23% Otero Junior College 68.46% 20.18% 7.50% 3.86% Pikes Peak Community College 78.97% 18.01% 0.90% 2.12% Pueblo Community College 80.16% 18.72% 1.09% 0.03% Red Rocks Community College 78.16% 16.65% 1.44% 3.76% Trinidad State Junior College 71.94% 20.34% 5.61% 2.11% Statewide Total 58.49% 18.57% 18.21% 4.72% 20

21 Tables 12 and 13 show the average student loan debt for degree recipients who took loans by institution and type of degree granted (either baccalaureate or associates). Table 12, Average Student Loans taken at Graduation-Associates Degree Institution Adams State College 8,488 14,259 9,334 8,945 11,782 Aims Community College 8,784 9,056 10,324 9,936 9,918 Arapahoe Community College 9,955 11,806 11,587 12,984 13,159 Colorado Mountain College 8,573 8,118 10,463 9,181 11,087 Colorado Northwestern Community College 11,482 13,423 13,372 15,081 16,404 Community College of Aurora 10,254 9,073 10,134 11,005 12,496 Community College of Denver 11,260 10,462 10,877 12,051 13,847 Front Range Community College 10,408 10,241 9,899 10,660 12,148 Lamar Community College 7,582 6,333 9,704 11,538 13,423 Mesa State College 9,681 11,481 11,181 13,232 14,112 Morgan Community College 7,549 10,461 14,389 11,657 12,129 Northeastern Junior College 6,077 6,480 6,919 9,179 9,660 Otero Junior College 8,191 8,539 9,690 12,651 12,621 Pikes Peak Community College 7,847 8,821 8,925 10,554 11,450 Pueblo Community College 10,984 11,539 11,818 12,847 13,814 Red Rocks Community College 8,706 9,687 10,529 12,102 11,734 Trinidad State Junior College 8,293 8,392 8,217 10,475 11,984 LOANS INCLUDED: Federal Stafford Loans Unsubsidized; Federal Perkins Loan; Federal Stafford Loans Subsidized; Federal Health Profession Loans; Other Loans NOTE: In this table, Average Students Loan Debt is calculated as the average loan amount per student only for students that have debt upon graduation, not the average debt of all degree receiving students per institution. 21

22 Table 13, Average Student Loan Debt at Graduation-Baccalaureate Degree Institution Adams State College 16,699 17,832 18,634 20,013 20,804 Colorado School of Mines 16,103 18,653 22,453 21,503 26,013 Colorado State University 17,623 18,536 18,948 19,854 21,370 Colorado State University - Pueblo 20,485 21,750 21,855 22,393 21,955 Fort Lewis College 15,925 16,496 17,891 18,039 17,081 Mesa State College 17,763 19,754 18,028 20,672 20,751 Metropolitan State College of Denver 19,636 20,480 21,475 22,650 23,858 University of Colorado - Boulder 18,105 18,887 21,642 19,961 20,662 University of Colorado - Colorado Springs 16,525 18,379 18,168 19,487 21,900 University of Colorado Denver 21,552 23,945 23,327 24,224 25,974 University of Northern Colorado 16,744 16,778 17,967 18,539 20,714 Western State College 15,956 16,596 20,613 18,229 20,915 LOANS INCLUDED: Federal Stafford Loans Unsubsidized; Federal Perkins Loan; Federal Stafford Loans Subsidized; Federal Health Profession Loans; Other Loans NOTE: In this table Average Students Loan Debt is calculated as the average loan amount per student only for students that have debt upon graduation, not the average debt of all degree receiving students per institution. 22

23 Tables 14 and 15 include percentages of total degree recipients that received loans. The average cumulative loan debt at graduation from public, four year institutions ranges from $$17,081 to $26,013. Estimates from the College Board s Trends in Student Aid 2010 indicate that the amount of federal education loans issued increased by 14 percent in In Colorado, 65 percent of students graduate with debt and the average debt is $22,084 for a bachelor s degree. Table 14: Percentage of Graduates with Student Loan Debt-Baccalaureate Degree % of Average Recipients Loan Debt Institution with Loans Adams State College 74% 20,804 Colorado School of Mines 66% 26,013 Colorado State University 66% 21,370 Colorado State University - Pueblo 69% 21,955 Fort Lewis College 64% 17,081 Mesa State College 72% 20,751 Metropolitan State College of Denver 77% 23,858 University of Colorado - Boulder 50% 20,662 University of Colorado - Colorado Springs 70% 21,900 University of Colorado Denver 73% 25,974 University of Northern Colorado 69% 20,714 Western State College 68% 20,915 Table 15: Percentage of Graduates with Student Loan Debt-Associate s Degree Institution % of Recipients with Loans Average Loan Debt of Loan Recipients Adams State College 70% 11,782 Aims Community College 65% 9,918 Arapahoe Community College 75% 13,159 Colorado Mountain College 67% 11,087 Colorado Northwestern Community College 66% 16,404 Community College of Aurora 61% 12,496 Community College of Denver 68% 13,847 Front Range Community College 71% 12,148 Lamar Community College 59% 13,423 Mesa State College 73% 14,112 Morgan Community College 58% 12,129 Northeastern Junior College 53% 9,660 Otero Junior College 46% 12,621 Pikes Peak Community College 61% 11,450 Pueblo Community College 70% 13,814 Red Rocks Community College 61% 11,734 Trinidad State Junior College 47% 11,984 23